On Saturday, February 21st, the listener-sponsored, noncommercial, independent and local radio station KPOO will broadcast LIVE from the Amoeba SF stage from 2-6 pm! Join us in welcoming DJ X1 (Old School, Hip-Hop, R&B), McSchmormac (exploring the origins of recorded music with recordings from 1900 to 1950), and DJ Jose Ruiz (Latin Salsa). Come down and shake it with us! There will be dancing in the aisles.

KPOO broadcasts 24 hours a day to San Francisco, Oakland, and the greater Bay Area. Founded by Poor People’s Radio, Inc., KPOO’s ongoing mission has been to open the airwaves to the disenfranchised and underserved. They broadcasts news, public meetings, election, live events, interviews, public service announcements, and music not heard on any other radio stations. KPOO Radio is run by a volunteer staff.

Ok, so the title is a little misleading. This is really not a blow-out sale in the classic sense. It's not like we are trying to discard a bunch of stock that has been sitting in the store for awhile. Rather, I like to think of this sale as a perfect storm of Latin LPs that has built up at the Amoeba Hollywood store and is ready to downpour on Friday, August 17th. The sale, which will be located at the bin west of the information counter, continues until August 23rd.

The selection is as incredible as it is diverse. Great selections of Salsa, Rancheras, Boogaloo, Corridos, Flamenco, Cumbia, Spanish Pop, early Latin Rock & Roll, many in pristine condition. Plenty from all your favorite Latin record labels such as Fania, Tico and Discos Fuentes, as well as others that most aren't that familiar with. Labels such as the classic Cuban label, Kubany and old school Corridos from the label, Anahual. Other record labels, such as Musart and Caytronic, which released a variety of Latin Music from Mexico and the Southwest. Lastly, great records out of Central American from the labels Profono and Dicesa.

End of the year usually means the major labels release all their biggest releases of the year and Latin Music is no exception. On the pop side we have releases from Paulina Rubio's Brava and Laura Pausini latest, Inedito, which has a ’Spanish and Italian version. Former Aventura singers Romeo Santos and Henry Santos release their first solo albums. Henry Santos Introducing and Romeo long-anticipated Formula Vol. 1has been selling like crazy. Even solo, these guys are still the Kings Of Bachata. Not to be outdone is Shakira with another live CD/DVD, Live In Paris.

On The rock side, Mana has yet another deluxe version of Drama Y Luz, with a DVD with videos and bonus tracks not on the original deluxe version. We had another monstrous in-store; this time it was Enrique Bunbury promoting his newest release, Licenciado Cantinas with an autograph session. We sold over 300 advance CDs for the signing and a bunch more online and now we have the vinyl version, if you are so inclined.

It’s been disheartening to see the lack of coverage the floods in Pakistan have been getting in L.A. The relief efforts have been slow, and contributions to relief organizations have been much less than one would expect for a disaster of that magnitude. Surely the media's bias against Muslim countries doesn’t help. Add a depressed economy and other variables and most relief groups will tell you that funds are not rolling in to help the millions affected by the floods.

But how about the people that seem to champion every worldly cause? You, know, the ones that seem to Tweetor send Facebook links about global warming or “Haiti: One Year Later?" When local deejay Kutmah was deported, people came from all over the city to donate and help out, especially those not privy to immigrant rights issues. He is only one person and look at the effort that went to help him! It's amazing what people can do when focused. In Pakistan, there are 20 million people affected by the flooding. You would think there would be an uproar about the lack of aid and humanity.

How bout those artists that seem to write a song about any social issue in the media? There are no “We Are The World” style songs for Pakistan. I guess if the media isn’t covering Pakistan, then there will be no coverage for a song about Pakistan. Like the expression goes, "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" So why bother writing that song, right?